Chord playing attachment for stringed instruments



Aug. 1, 1950 E. L. LA ROSE 2,517,000

' CHORD PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb, 18, 1949 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 514 5 J54 1 Q Q 2454 114 INVEN TOR. [EA/37 4. A 2015 1950 E. L. LA ROSE 2,517,000

CHORD PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ta} .5 TIE E 3 15+ 7 27 2a 2; ,z6 27 a Patented Aug. 1, 1950 CHORD PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Ernest L. La Rose, New Britain, Conn.

Application February 18, 1949, Serial No. 77,161

4 Claims. (01. 84-317) install, and not requiring any changes or altera- 1;

tions in the construction of the instrument on which it is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved key-operated mechanism adapted to be mounted on the finger board of a guitar or other stringed instrument, said mechanism permitting the musician to play chords by simple and easy manipulations of the keys thereof, being inexpensive to manufacture and positive in action.

Further objects and advantages of the inven tion will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompany- .ing drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of a chord playing attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on the finger board of a guitar.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the chord playing attachment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the attachment of Figure 1, the neck of the guitar being shown in dotted View.

Figure 4 is a rear end elevational view of the chord playing attachment of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the chord playing attachment of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'I'l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 9-4] of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view taken on line I0l 0 of Figure 2.

Figures 11 to 14 are front elevational views of respective string-engaging members employed in the chord-playing attachment of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chord-playing attachment is designated generally at I 0. iiaid attachment comprises a generally rectangular elongated housing 4 8 having longitudinal. side walls i2 and IE3 and respective end walls id and Eli, defining a generally rectangular cavity within jacent the forward end wall i5 are the clamp arms I8, I8. Extending through the clamp arms I8, I8 and through the end wall i5 transversely of the housing I I is a bolt I9 provided outwardly adjacent one of the clamp arms, with a wing nut 20. As shown in Figure 3, the clamp arms I8 are curved downwardly and inwardly to conform with the contour of the side portions of the neck of the guitar. The inside surfaces of the clamp arms are provided with soft pads 2|, 2|, of felt or the like, engageable with the neck of the guitar in the manner shown in Figure 3, so that when wing nut is tightened, the neck of the guitar will not be marred by the clamp arms l8, I8.

Secured to the sides of housing I I adjacent the rear end wall 54 is a clamping strap 22 of leather or other suitable flexible material, engageable around the neck of the guitar in the manner shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, one end of strap 22 is connected to a pin 23 secured between lugs 23, 23' depending from a rear corner portion of housing II. The other end of the strap 22 is secured to the head of an inverted T-bolt 24 whose shank extends upwardl through an apertured bracket 25 secured to the other rear corner portion of the housing and projecting laterally therefrom. Threaded on the shank of bolt 24 is a wing nut 28. When the strap 22 is engaged around the neck of the guitar in the manner shown in Figure 4, said strap may be tightened, so as to clampingly engage the guitar neck, by tightening the wing nut 26.

Pivotally secured at its intermediate portion to the rear end wall M is a transverse vertical plate member 28 having an arcuately curved bottom edge 29 which extends below the bottom plane of housing II. The arcuate edge 29 is formed with spaced notches 30 through which the guitar strings pass when the attachment is mounted on a guitar. The pivot screw, shown at 27, secures plate member 28 to end wall I4 but allows the housing II to be adjusted angularly around the axis of the screw.

Secured to the bottom marginal surface of front end wall l 5, is a bracket 3| having depending longitudinal side flanges 32, 32 engageable with the top surface of the guitar neck to provide a front bearing for the housing I I. The flanges 32, 32 are spaced so as to be located inwardly of and parallel to the end strings of the guitar without touching the strings, as shown in Figure 3.

When the housing II is clamped on the neck of a guitar bythe clamp arms I8, I8 and the strap member 22 in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear plate member 28 and the front longitudinal flanges 32, 32 bear on the top surface of the guitar neck and support the housing in inverted upwardly spaced relation to said 1 top surface and also in upwardly spaced re1a- 3 tion to the guitar strings. The guitar strings are designated at 33 to 38 respectively.

Designated at 39, 48 and 4| are respective longitudinally spaced rectangular plate members contained within the housing and vertically movable therein. Each plate member is formed with a pair of counter-bored apertures 5|. Extending axially through the openings 5| and secured to the top wall of housing H are respective headed bolts 52. Encircling the bolts 52 and bearing between the bolt heads and the counter-bores are coiled springs 53, biasing the plate members 39, 48 and 4| against the top wall of the housing. Plate member 39 has pivotally secured to its opposite ends the respective transverse vertical plate elements 54 and 55. Plate member 48 has pivotally secured to its opposite ends the respective transverse vertical elements 58 and 51. Plate member 4| has pivotally secured to its opposite ends the respective transverse vertical plate elements 58 and 59. Each of the plate elements 54 to 59 is formed with a pair of spaced depending lugs, as shown at 88, 8|, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, 81, 88, 89, I8 and H in Figure 2. The transverse spacing of these lugs varies with each of the plate elements. However, it may be seen from Figure 2 that the lugs 62, 88 and 18 are longitudinally aligned and overlie the string 38 of the guitar; the lugs 88 and 88 are longitudinally aligned and overlie the next string 31; the lug 64 overlies the next string 38; the lugs 83, 81 and 7| are longitudinally aligned and overlie the next string 35; the lugs 8| and 89 are longitudinally aligned and overlie the next string 34; the lug 85 overlies the last string 33.

The top surface of plate member 4| is formed with a transverse groove 49. Designated at 42 is a lever extending transversely through the housing and pivoted at one end to a longitudinal hinge pin 43 carried in brackets 44 and 45 secured to the side wall |3 of the housing. Lever '42 extends through vertical slots 48 and Y41 formed in the side walls of the housing. At its free 'end lever 42 is provided with a finger tab 48. The plate member 4| may be depressed with respect to the top wall 58' of the housing H by depressing the finger tab 48. This engages lug 78 with string '38, lug 88 with string 31, lug H with string 35,

and lug 89 with string 34.

The top surface of plate member 4-8 is formed with a transverse groove 12 which receives a second transverse lever 13 pivoted at one end to pin 43 and provided at its free end with a finger tab 14. Lever 13 passes through vertical slots and 18 formed in the side walls of housing When lever 13 is depressed, plate member 48 is moved downwardly, engaging lug 88 with string 38, lug 81 with string 35, lug 84 with string 38,

and lug 85 with the string 33.

downwardly, engaging lug 82 with'string 38, lug

88 with string 31, lug 83 with string 35, and lug 8| with string 34.

Designated at 83 is a transverse lever pivoted at 84 to rear end wall I4 adjacent the side wall I2. Lever 83 extends through a vertical slot 85 formed in side wall |3 and the free end of lever is provided with a finger tab 88. Pivoted to the intermediate portion of lever 83 and extending parallel to and adjacent the plate element 54 is a plate element 81. Plate element 81 is formed with depending lugs 88 and 89. Lug 89 is of the same size as the lugs heretofore described and overlies the string 33. Lug 88 is twice as long as lug 89 and overlies strings 35 and 38. Lever 83 is biased upwardly against top wall 58 by a spring 98 acting between the bottom edge of said lever and a lug 9| secured to rear end wall I4 and underlying said lever. When finger tab 88 is depressed, plate element 81 is moved downwardly, causing lug 89 to engage string 33' and lug 88 to simultaneously engage strings 35 and 38.

Designated at 92 is a longitudinally extending lever pivoted at 93 to the inner side of side wall It. Lever 92 is formed at its free end with a laterally projecting arm 94 which extends through a vertical slot 35 formed in side wall |3. The end. of arm 84 is provided with a finger tab 98. Lever'92 is biased upwardly by a spring 91, as shown in Figure 10, which acts between the bottom edge of said lever and an inwardl projecting ing 88, secured to side Wall l3 in underlying relation to the lever. Pivoted at 99 to lever 92 is a Z-shaped vertical plate member N38. The body portion of plate member M28 is longitudinally aligned with the space intermediate strings 33 and 34, as shown in Figure 2. At its forward end plate member 988. carries the transverse lug |8| which overlies the string 33. At its rear end plate member )8 carries the transverse lug E82 which overlies the string 34. When finger tab 98 is deressed, plate member I88 is moved downwardly, causing lug i 8| to engage string 33 and lug I82 to engage string 34.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that plate elements 53 and 87 carry a first group of depending lugs comprising lugs 88, 88, 8| and 89. Plate elements 55 and 58 carry a second group of lugs comprising lugs 82, 84, 83 and 85. Included in this second group isthe lug I182 carried by plate member 588. A third groupof lugs comprises lugs 88, 88, El and 88 and 58!. A fourth group comprises the lugs 78 and H. The respective groups of lugs above described are spaced longitudinally at distances corresponding, to the dis tances between successive frets on the neck of the guitar.

It will be apparent that by depressing different finger tabs the strings of the guitar will be engaged in diiferent ways, whereb difierent chords may be produced when the strings are struck. For example, assume that the strings 33 to 38 are tuned to provide the respective tones G, B, D, G, B, D. When the strings struck this produces a first desired chord, namely G chord, on open string actuation. When finger tab 88 is depressed, strings 33, and 33 will be stopped at the rearmost fret. When the strings are struck, string 33 will vibrate to provide the tone of G sharp, string 35 will provide the tone of D sharp, and string 38 will provide the tone G sharp.

When finger tab is depressed, strings 34 and 37 will be stopped at the rearrnost fret and strings 35 and 38 will be stopped at the second fret. When the strings are struck, string 34 will provide the tone C and string 31 will provide the tone C. String 35 will provide the tone E and string 38 will also provide the tone E. In combination with the tones of the remaining strings, a second desired chord is produced. In a similar manner, various other desired chords may be produced by depressing the other finger tabs prior to striking the strings. Tabs 88 and 98 are used to make available the half-tones necessary to play a melody in Which sharps and flats are needed. All chords and natural tones ar available by the use of tabs 48, i i and Bil. By simultaneously depressing a plurality of selected finger tabs at great number of different chords may be obtained in addition to those chords which are available by depressing the individual finger tabs,

It will be apparent that the player may readily obtain the desired chords without confusion as to the strings to be stopped and as to the fret positions at which the strings must be engaged. The chords may be played without the need of great manual dexterity on the player's part and with positive string-engaging action. The possibility of accidentally striking a discordant string is completely eliminated.

The attachment may be clamped at different places on the neck of the guitar, thereby enabling the key to be changed without altering the mode of playing. The attachment provides a choice of two different keys at each setting.

While a specific embodiment of a chord playing attachment for guitars has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. A chord playing attachment for stringed instruments comprising a housing, means for securing said housing on the neck of a stringed instrument in overlying relation to the strings, a plurality of levers pivotally secured to and extending into said housing, each lever being pro vided with an external actuating element projecting laterally of the housing, respective vertically movable members contained Within the housing, means pivotally connecting said vertically movable members to the respective levers for pivotal adjustment around axes parallel to the respective pivotal axes of the levers, and a pair of spaced depending string-engaging elements carried by each vertically movable member, said pair of elements being spaced on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the associated vertically movable member.

2. A chord playing attachment for stringed instruments comprising a housing, means for detachably securing said housing to the neck of a string instrument in overlying relation to the strings, a plurality of levers pivotally secured to and extending into the housing, each lever being provided with an external actuating element projecting laterally of the housing, respective vertically movable members contained within the housing, certain of said members extending transversely of the housing and at least one of said members extending longitudinally of the housing, means pivotally connecting said members to the respective levers for free pivotal adjustment around axes parallel to the respective pivotal axes of the levers, spring means biasing the members upwardly, and a pair of spaced depending transverse string-engaging elements carried by each member, said pair of elements being spaced on opposite sides of the pivoted connection of the associated member.

3. A chord playing attachment for stringed instruments comprising a housing, means for securing said housing on the neck of a stringed instrument in overlying relation to the strings, a plurality of levers pivotally connected to a side portion of and extending transversely through said housing, respective vertically movable horizontal rectangular plate elements contained in the housing and underlying the respective levers, spring means biasing the vertically movable members upwardly, a pair of vertical plate elements pivotally secured at their intermediate portions to the respective opposite transverse edges of each vertically movable member for free pivotal adjustment in transverse planes, and a pair of depending string-engaging lugs carried by each plate element, said lugs being spaced on opposite sides of the pivotal connections of their associated plate elements.

4. A chord playing attachment for stringed instruments comprising a housing, means for securing said housing on the neck of a stringed instrument in overlying relation to the strings, a plurality of levers pivotally secured to the housing outwardly adjacent one side edge thereof and extending through said housing, respective vertically movable members contained in the housing, each vertically movable member being engageable by one of said levers, and depending string engaging elements movably secured to each of the vertically movable members.

ERNEST L. LA ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

